Unpaid carers: Love, duty and sacrifice

When people hear the word “carer”, they often picture someone older or working in healthcare. But across the UK, millions of people are caring for parents, siblings and relatives alongside studying, building careers and trying to live their own lives.

For many in South Asian communities, caring for elderly relatives at home is a deep-rooted practice and looking after family is often seen as duty, love and expectation all at once. But behind that can also be burnout, emotional pressure and very little time for yourself.

As part of Caring Matters, the BBC's week of programming shining a light on unpaid carers across the BBC, Amber Haque speaks to poet, writer and actor Hussain Manawer. His poetry often explores care, mental health and the experiences that shaped him. She’s also joined by entrepreneur Akshay Ruparelia, who started his first business at 17 while caring for his deaf parents. Together, they reflect on what caring really means to them, the emotional weight it can carry and why they think more people need to talk about it.

The biggest stories affecting Asian Network listeners across the UK with Amber Haque.

Produced in Birmingham by Samsaara Productions for BBC Asian Network.